Fury, who calls Price a “stiff idiot”, says: “Call me out, call me any names and you are getting it.

“And you know your gay lover Tony Bellew, I’ll fight him...”

Tony Bellew

Little over a week after defeating Wladimir Klitschko on points in Dusseldorf, Fury has faced accusations of homophobia and sexism.

He compared homosexuality and abortion to paedophilia and claimed fellow Sports Personality of the Year nominee Jess Ennis-Hill “looks quite fit when she’s got a dress on” and “slaps up good”.

An online petition has already collected tens of thousands of signatures demanding that Fury is removed from the list over his outspoken comments.

“Young people need sports personalities that they can look up to, not people who express outrageous homophobic views, which can cause bullying and self-harm,” the petition reads.

On Saturday night, Fury launched a remarkable rant telling TV station iFL TV that his critics can “suck my b****” - and dismissing those who have signed the petition as “50,000 w******”.

On Wednesday Britain’s Sports Journalist’s Association (SJA) said it had withdrawn its invitation to Tyson Fury to attend next week’s British Sports Awards.

“The decision was made as a consequence of threats made by Fury against at least one sports journalist, an SJA member, who has written about the boxer’s repugnant comments on homosexuality and women,” the SJA said in a statement.

Tyson Fury on Channel 5

Greater Manchester Police confirmed on Wednesday that they had received a report of “hate crime” in connection with comments made by Fury on a BBC programme.

The BBC defended 27-year-old Fury’s inclusion on the SPOTY shortlist.

“The Sports Personality shortlist is compiled by a panel of industry experts and is based on an individual’s sporting achievement,” it said in a statement.

“It is not an endorsement of an individual’s personal beliefs, either by the BBC or members of the panel.”